Test 112 Instructions
Version 7 (Greg Moran, 03/16/2014 09:53 am) → Version 8/50 (Greg Moran, 03/16/2014 09:55 am)
h1. Test 1.1.2 Instructions
{{toc}}
h2. Test Hardware
* Transmitter for lab and field tests - http://www.ti.com/ww/en/RF-BoosterPack/index.shtml
h2. Test 1: Lab Test
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
Lab test using low power transmitter at 915 MHz to confirm signal reception and system gain (not an AX.25 signal, but close enough). These instructions assume that the receiver and most recent software are already assembled and installed. If not, accomplish the next 2 steps.
# Follow the instruction for "GroundSphere Kit assembly"
# Follow the instructions for Operations Manual - "Getting Started and Set up"
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
*Tools Needed:*
Ground Sphere test rig
915 MHz transmitter, see link above
Computer (min system reqs:_______________)
Tape Measure
*Safety concerns:*
*Outcome*
* Partial verification of technical requirement 1.1.2,
* Confirmation of Ground Sphere performance in best case laboratory conditions
* Confirmation of Ground Sphere performance in simulated orbital conditions
*Instructions:*
# [ ] Turn on computer
# [ ] Tuen on the transmitter
# [ ] Plug the GroundSphere USB data connector into an open USB port
# [ ] Plug the GroundShpere power cord into a standard 120v power outlet
# [ ] Record the distance between transmitter and receiver: _______________ (in meters?)
# [ ] Launch the _____ software
# [ ] tune the transmitter to 915 MHz
# [ ] Set transmitter power to ____________ _NOTE: (This is a reasonably strong terrestrial signal, and is an unrealistically high power to expect from SkyCube)_
# [ ] Tune the ________ software to receive 915 MHz
# [ ] Observe the transmitted signal received by GroundSphere
# [ ] Move the transmitter ___________ (4 meters?) from the GroundSphere antenna
# [ ] set the transmitter power level to _______________. _NOTE: (at this power level, we are simulating the signal that we expect to receive form SkyCube as it flys directly overhead of the antenna, given its orbital parameters <link to TLE file used in calculations> )_
# [ ] Observe the transmitted signal received by GroundSphere
<insert screenshot image of computer screen showing high power 915 MHz signal> <insert screenshot image of computer screen showing low power 915 MHz signal>
*TEST TEST PROCEDURE COMPLETE* COMPLETE
h2. Test 2: Field Test
Long
long range test using low power transmitter at 915 MHz to simulate predicted link budget (which comes from analysis) and confirm signal reception. These instructions assume that the receiver and most recent software are already assembled and installed. If not, accomplish the next 2 steps.
# Follow the instruction for "GroundSphere Kit assembly"
# Follow the instructions for Operations Manual - "Getting Started and Set up"
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________ reception
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
*Tools Needed:*
*Safety concerns:*
*Outcome*
*Instructions:*
<insert screenshot image of computer screen showing high power 915 MHz signal> <insert screenshot image of computer screen showing low power 915 MHz signal>
*TEST PROCEDURE COMPLETE*
h2. Test 3: From Orbit Test
acquire signal from orbiting cubesat operating on 915 MHz (NPS just launched two cubesats which use the same radio and configuration as SkyCube). These instructions assume that the receiver and most recent software are already assembled and installed. If not, accomplish the next 2 steps.
# Follow the instruction for "GroundSphere Kit assembly"
# Follow the instructions for Operations Manual - "Getting Started and Set up"
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
*Tools Needed:*
*Safety concerns:*
*Outcome*
*Instructions:*
<insert screenshot image of computer screen showing high power 915 MHz signal> <insert screenshot image of computer screen showing low power 915 MHz signal>
*TEST PROCEDURE COMPLETE*
SkyCube)
{{toc}}
h2. Test Hardware
* Transmitter for lab and field tests - http://www.ti.com/ww/en/RF-BoosterPack/index.shtml
h2. Test 1: Lab Test
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
Lab test using low power transmitter at 915 MHz to confirm signal reception and system gain (not an AX.25 signal, but close enough). These instructions assume that the receiver and most recent software are already assembled and installed. If not, accomplish the next 2 steps.
# Follow the instruction for "GroundSphere Kit assembly"
# Follow the instructions for Operations Manual - "Getting Started and Set up"
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
*Tools Needed:*
Ground Sphere test rig
915 MHz transmitter, see link above
Computer (min system reqs:_______________)
Tape Measure
*Safety concerns:*
*Outcome*
* Partial verification of technical requirement 1.1.2,
* Confirmation of Ground Sphere performance in best case laboratory conditions
* Confirmation of Ground Sphere performance in simulated orbital conditions
*Instructions:*
# [ ] Turn on computer
# [ ] Tuen on the transmitter
# [ ] Plug the GroundSphere USB data connector into an open USB port
# [ ] Plug the GroundShpere power cord into a standard 120v power outlet
# [ ] Record the distance between transmitter and receiver: _______________ (in meters?)
# [ ] Launch the _____ software
# [ ] tune the transmitter to 915 MHz
# [ ] Set transmitter power to ____________ _NOTE: (This is a reasonably strong terrestrial signal, and is an unrealistically high power to expect from SkyCube)_
# [ ] Tune the ________ software to receive 915 MHz
# [ ] Observe the transmitted signal received by GroundSphere
# [ ] Move the transmitter ___________ (4 meters?) from the GroundSphere antenna
# [ ] set the transmitter power level to _______________. _NOTE: (at this power level, we are simulating the signal that we expect to receive form SkyCube as it flys directly overhead of the antenna, given its orbital parameters <link to TLE file used in calculations> )_
# [ ] Observe the transmitted signal received by GroundSphere
<insert screenshot image of computer screen showing high power 915 MHz signal> <insert screenshot image of computer screen showing low power 915 MHz signal>
*TEST TEST PROCEDURE COMPLETE* COMPLETE
h2. Test 2: Field Test
Long
long range test using low power transmitter at 915 MHz to simulate predicted link budget (which comes from analysis) and confirm signal reception. These instructions assume that the receiver and most recent software are already assembled and installed. If not, accomplish the next 2 steps.
# Follow the instruction for "GroundSphere Kit assembly"
# Follow the instructions for Operations Manual - "Getting Started and Set up"
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________ reception
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
*Tools Needed:*
*Safety concerns:*
*Outcome*
*Instructions:*
<insert screenshot image of computer screen showing high power 915 MHz signal> <insert screenshot image of computer screen showing low power 915 MHz signal>
*TEST PROCEDURE COMPLETE*
h2. Test 3: From Orbit Test
acquire signal from orbiting cubesat operating on 915 MHz (NPS just launched two cubesats which use the same radio and configuration as SkyCube). These instructions assume that the receiver and most recent software are already assembled and installed. If not, accomplish the next 2 steps.
# Follow the instruction for "GroundSphere Kit assembly"
# Follow the instructions for Operations Manual - "Getting Started and Set up"
Test Date: _________________________________ Test Location: ___________________________________________
Special Test Conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________
*Tools Needed:*
*Safety concerns:*
*Outcome*
*Instructions:*
<insert screenshot image of computer screen showing high power 915 MHz signal> <insert screenshot image of computer screen showing low power 915 MHz signal>
*TEST PROCEDURE COMPLETE*
SkyCube)